Pages

Thursday, August 20, 2015

1 Racing Mind 2015 Formula 1 Mid-season Report Card: Sauber

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

Sauber

Team Score: B

Felipe Nasr: B-

Marcus Ericsson: C+

If Formula 1 hands out a most improved award, the Sauber team would be in the running alongside Ferrari for the 2015 season. Ending the 2014 season scoreless in the constructors' points, a revamped car and a completely new driver line-up brought instant results for the Swiss-based team.

In the opening round of the 2015 Formula 1 schedule, Sauber debuted a new blue paint scheme on cars piloted by former Caterham F1 driver Marcus Ericsson and rookie Felipe Nasr. For the first time in his career in the Australian Grand Prix, Ericsson recorded a top-10 points result in Formula 1 finishing eighth. An impressive debut for the team, the Swedish driver was upstaged by his Brazilian teammate. Felipe Nasr started his Formula 1 career was a stunning fifth-place finish at Albert Park in Australia.

With only two non-finishes in 2015 after 10 races, the Sauber C34 chassis accompanied by Ferrari power has been a reliable vehicle. With exception to a gearbox problem that prevented the Brazilian from completing a single lap at the British Grand Prix, Nasr has registered the admirable rookie feat of finishing every grand prix so far in 2015. Marcus Ericsson's only retirement for 2015 occurred at the Malaysian Grand Prix caused by a spin out early in the event.

Ingredients for Second-Half of 2015:

The improvements made by the Sauber F1 team has provided the extra positions they needed to be an occasional top-10 finishing team. Coming close to some decent finishes last year in the races during second part of the season, Sauber could prevail in adding to their points tally for 2015. Sauber's reliability might also come in handy in races through the second part of 2015.